Akhil Sharma
I wanted to get this after it was very enthusiastically recommended by David Sedaris at a reading of his that we went to over the summer. It is a richly written but disturbing book, or at least the first few pages are. I won't be reading any more just yet.
Unfortunately, I have heard what the dark secret of the book is, and knowing that this is coming makes me dread reading it. I also find that I am made uncomfortable by the central character because he is, by any measure I would use, a bad man and yet I find his portrayal sympathetic - it certainly isn't that I identify with him in any way, but just that I find it discomfiting to sympathise with ths situation of someone who I so profoundly dislike.
I will still read this, but not at the moment.
Update I am taking this off the list of books to read, because although I might yet read this I won't be doing so soon.
Posted by Dunx at October 28, 2003 04:57 PM
I absolutely agree with you. I picked the book up for the same reason (David Sedaris). I made it through the book, and now it haunts me. The central character is indeed a bad man, and the sympathetic (and unnervingly empathetic) manner in which the writer portrays him bothers me. It's incredible how the writing makes the reader feel pity for this beast. Sharma is talented (and twisted).